Bayelsa United secured a 1-0 victory over CS Sfaxien in the first leg, second round of the CAF Confederation Cup match on Sunday, in Yenagoa.
After defeating the Guinean team, AS Ashanti Golden Boys in the first round, the Nigerian National League side faced Juventus of the Arabs, who have won the competition three times.
However, it was Bayelsa United who had the last laugh thanks to a Victory Beniangba’s effort on the hour mark.
The Yenagoa-based team could have increased the tally by at least three goals in the first 45 minutes, but Mohamed Gaaloul’s excellent goalkeeping saved the visitors.
Speaking after the game, the goalkeeper, John Shaibu, was delighted with the result, while specifying that his team still have the second leg to play before thinking of celebrating.
“It was a very difficult game, but I’m delighted that we were able to achieve victory and keep a clean sheet in Yenagoa.
“We gave our whole heart and I’m glad our efforts paid off. We would have liked to score more than one goal, but you know it was not easy against a big club like CS Sfaxien.
“They came towards us but we managed to hold on and prevent them from scoring. We showed them a little respect but we weren’t blown away by their pedigree in African football.
“We are not going to celebrate this victory yet because we know that we still have a difficult game ahead of us in Tunisia.
“With luck on our side, we hope to qualify for the group stage of the Confederation Cup. And there anything can happen.
Bayelsa United must avoid defeat in the return leg scheduled for Stade Taieb Mhiri Sfax to have any chance of reaching the group stage of the competition.
Bayelsa United won the 2021 Aiteo Cup after defeating NPFL side, Nasarawa United, via penalty shoot-outs after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
In addition to becoming the first Nigerian second division team to win the prestigious cup since Dolphins FC’s feat 20 years ago, the Yenagoa-based squad got a ticket to represent the West African nation alongside Enyimba in the Confederations Cup.
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